Express Scripts Establishes New Specialty Benefits OrganizationIn November, Express Scripts (NASDAQ:ESRX) announced the formation of a new Specialty Benefit Services organization. SBS aims to combine PBM and specialty pharmacy services with management of drugs covered under the medical benefit. Yup, they are going after the buy-and-bill spend on specialty drugs in physician offices and clinics. As I noted back June’s Channel Strategy at the PBM-Wholesaler Intersection, wholesalers and PBMs are on a collision course over the distribution channels for specialty drugs. Pay attention to this trend in 2011.

George Van Antwerp, who blogs on PBM-related topics at Enabling Health Decisions, writes: “He does a great job of aggregating data, looking at trends, creating great charts, and providing an informed perspective on the industry.”

Todd Eury, who blogs on independent pharmacy topics at Pharmacy Technology Resource, writes: “This report is concise and provides an incredible amount of intelligent usable information for the privately owned pharmacy business…Independent Pharmacy owners will find this report a tremendous education to helping with a new strategy for 2011!”

Walmart's ability to initiate a price war might just show that those managers responsible for such knee jerk reactions still don't understand that retail pharmacy (prescriptions)is not like selling bath soap. You don't need a $100K sales clerk for that.

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